Student cell phone stolen, police asking for help

Police are asking students for help and encouraging vigilance after a student was approached on campus and robbed of his cell phone.

A student was approached at about 9:30 p.m. Aug. 26 near Smith Hall, according to an email from campus police. A man asked the student if he could use his cell phone to make a call.

“He asked to use my phone, said it didn’t work and gave it back to gain my trust so that he would ask a second time and then run,” the student said.

The man ran away and got into a black sedan, which was parked on Kentucky Avenue. The student tried to chase him to get his phone back, but was unable to reach the car in time.

“The obvious lesson here is to use the buddy system at all time, especially at night,” the student said. “The second and arguably more important lesson is to stay put and do not chase after criminals if you are not a police officer.”

The man is described as a black male with thin facial hair from ear to ear and short hair in the style of an Afro. He is about 5 foot 8 inches tall and weighed roughly 160 pounds with a thin build. The car was driven by another black man for whom the police do not have a description.

The robbery is similar to one reported in February where another student had their phone stolen by a suspect with a similar description near the Cokesbury Court Apartments’ mailboxes.

The suspect in that case was described as a black male, between 20-30 years old, weighing about 180 pounds, and about 5 foot 6 inches tall, according to Student Publication’s archives.

Police Chief Bradd Brown said police are reviewing the February case to see if the two robberies are related.

Brown also warned the campus community not give their cell phone to anybody.

“Also if you see anyone matching this particular description, especially if this type of situation occurs, we want them to immediately call our emergency line,” he said.

If you have information about the robbery, call the non-emergency line for campus police at 405-208-5001. In the case of an emergency, call 405-208-5911.